Wire nail machine



Dec. 25, 1951 'J.-LI. WEBER WIRE NAIL MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed April 9, 1946 fnvenfor' uZw/v L 001s h EBER J. L. WEBER WIRE NAIL MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Dec. 25, 1951 Filed April 9, 1946 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 v i i-France Febrlrsrjqm qgrgg w iews aive-Phi AppljcationA-pril 9, i946 Seria, N0. 660 68 :1 *Maph-i-nes provided for the manufacture :of ails g ener a11y comprise, in addition 4.110 -a-..Wire strai h en n means; -.a f eder 1 grippin ev amounted; n a st p by step fe in -carria e "fer the wire,'c 1 9 .mping jaws=fr clamping saidi'carriage first during-formation'of the headby pressure or impact, gndqt-hen {during the cutting opergtion and; cutting; ofi mechanism comprising c tters adaptedrtoashearthenailsajwhjie simulycentreonstr on, ataneeius 'y;fprming'rtheends thereof, means h me 1L slides ze tueizesiii provided for-fi-naily expulsing the nails'thus protion thronghmhe gduced'iand for synchronously controlling th orkegcentric sy ya-riousmembers of isuchmaichinesi I Theimprovements :;which form the objects of this invention, raresgenerai-ly:applicable toM-a'uto- -l% i 2 machines of theaz eve specified type but are ,m ore1 particularly. concerned with the structure of the cutting device, the controls thereof and -re1ative pdisposition zthereofwith i respect -.to ithe feeder means aur1d:-ti 1e. hecd form-igng means.

The cuttingi devices in 'present :use, are eprovi ie.d1-in Various types; the: principal ofx'whichrare for the slides or zindicated-5he t h .iimme d-iete 1 A certain-gtypeaof such devices comprisestwo ii helQQEs fg rned g :levers piVoteIi inteIrmediateqtheir:endsebtmt a (len e fiifi i hefi idfi figfi 3%;; pair of -spacedgiparallel {axes ibetweenk-wkfich ii Yention .;;1; e1j 1 .te,s 11K) travels the:head-forming-ramor ham-merehea'd; wire-nail machines for overco two correspondingrends of "said levers are" pro- :vi'dcd with cutters while 1: the :twoa oppositeends gre previded with -1:oi:1ers:at1a.11 times engagingta v .n-qev' mele -set e cu ter .eu; edsn el rre plieee in m ime gro o-ve camw Under theiaction; .of' this ct-En; -.the rotetion oflwhicheis synchronisedwith the. endimensions an :era1;;movement;of-the yarious: parts of the ma- -e1 i; id; lere s -r tate to eth r-w t theircutc ters-z which traveLin-nan arcuatepath :so eas'to ;'-Ihe.rna 1n5obiect r;the'Wir ,-and;9r th :pe.in :ef.:thernail. in a w eail mac in cuttin fl v' ce 1 f. :t ezebeve yp he e occurs a ftera certain period of use; a; qcerteim .e r no u-nt of wear of the cam groove-and ,of-- .the

rollers so that the {cutters strikezeach "otherand A flec mutua dama esnehxma i s :requir ilz qu nt r ehu tmen nend 1t ei eedwis neces- :sfirilyf-limitedbecause of counterecammingefiect.

Ill/2' nu e m hanism; of :more, recent. 10.0. 1- metien it a :been- 1 t mpt. ---.t.oi :eyercom .145 the above-mentioned drawbacks; 2T0 that, end, eth -le erswer pirete oneeemmonexi a are controlled by aqnechanisnrpf thefl-ipk a nd- :e en erseeee t i pe .;foh eutt rrrineenqs being c it e .b lat ra extensien pa all in v inemen-inscribe Witht eeemme pivoie ex s. 0f th lev rss n lQSQISzzQIZ men ely -neqnir lle wzhy whe ehetw e zme ravel durin t he ieii :meensorgans;ep e rietemeehamsm capable-10f -ime rtineetoaseidz erersihppositel ereeiprqea in oscillation in synchr ed-xtime-relatio ship with the: werieiis i r-ioimhe :mechm ma be 1" ts hwit eemn i e1ep1yre i hi th nt ien; i 21 prov d such as a mechanism of the general crank-andlink or eccentric type, the connection between each link and the associated lever being of the ball and socket type.

The centers of the ball and socket connections are arranged in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the ram and perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the levers. I

Another, object of the invention is to provide a wire-nail machine of the character described wherein each of the cutters is mounted at the end of the corresponding oscillating lever arm in such a manner as to be adjustable in all three directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire-nail machine of the character described wherein, in order to make possible adjustment of the length of stroke of the cutter-supporting oscillating levers, the links controlling such levers are adjustable in length and are each formed for example in two parts threadedly connected with each other or connected by a double adjusting sleeve threadedly engaging oppositely threaded ends on both said parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire-nail machine of the character described wherein, in order to allow the controlling links of the oscillating levers bearing the cutters to work at all times in the best possible conditions without being subjected to distortion or causing distortion on the driving crank shaft or similar driving member, such links are supported on the corresponding bearings of said shaft by means of ball and socket connections of any suitable type, such as smooth, or comprising balls, rollers or needles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire-nail machine of the character described wherein the two oscillating cutter carrying levers are mounted on the respective pivotal axes thereof by means of conical roller bearings provided with means for taking up play.

The invention also comprises further particular features which will appear in the course of the following disclosure made in reference with the appending drawings given by way of example only and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of a machine embodying the improvements according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine partly in section on line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line III--III of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are partial cross-sections at enlarged scales through lines IV-IV, VV and VIVI of Fig. 1 respectively.

Fig. '7 is a partial'cross-section on enlarged scale through line VII-VII of- Fig. 6.

In the embodiment herein illustrated solely by way of example, the cutter mechanism comprises two rotatable levers and 2 made in the shape of forks and pivoted by the arms la, lb and 2a, 2b of said forks about two axes or pivots 3 and 4 arranged in aligned relationship with respect to each other but providing therebetween clearancev -room'for the passage of the mechanism of ram 5-provided for forming the heads of the nails. The upper arms |a and 2a of the forks of levers and 2 are pivoted on the upper axis 3, and the lower arms lb and 2b of said forks are pivoted on the lower axis 4, as more particularly shown in Fig.2. The forks of levers I and 2 are adapted to provide central clearance space for the passing of ram 5 as indicated above. a

- According to theinvention and so as to permit:

adjustment of each of the cutters 64 as accurate as it is desired in three directions perpendicular each other, the direction of the longitudinal adjustment for the cutter 64 itself being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wire utilized for the manufacture of nails or the like, the arm 39 of each of the oscillating levers and 2 comprises a cylindrical recess 40 the axis of which is substantially parallel to'the direction of the movement of the hammer-head forming the heads of the nail or the like. In said recess 45 there is mounted with a smooth friction fit a cylindrical rod 4| integral with a support 42. The end of the rod 4| is formed with an internally threaded hole into which extends the end of an adjusting screw 43 comprising a flange 44 axially held in position in a recess formed in the arm 39 of the oscillating lever by a strap member 45, secured to said arm by screw 46. It will be seen that by rotating the screw 43 in either direction, there will result an axial displacement of the rod 4| and of the support 42 integral therewith in one or the other direction. After adjustment the rod 4| is rigidly blocked in position on the arm 33 by any suitable means such for example as a transverse key member 4'! (Fig. 5) formed with an arcuate recess 48 effective to wedge the rod 4| in its socket when the key is tightened by means of a nut 49 engaged on a threaded end portion of said key member 4'! and bearing on the lateral face of the arm 39. In order to prevent a rotation of the support 42 by an angular movement of the cylindrical rod 4| in its socket 45, the base of the support 42 extends into a recess 40a having a width corresponding to that of the base of support 42 and formed in the end portion of the arm 39 (Figs. 1 and 5).

The support 42 comprises on its inner side face which is parallel to the axis of the rod 4!, a groove 5| extending perpendicular to said axis and having a dove-tail cross section which is engaged by a correspondingly shaped feather portion 52 provided on a cutter carrier 53. On the support 42 is secured in any suitable way a lateral lug 54 (Fig. 6) positioned in registry with the ends of the groove 5| and the feather 52 of the cutter-carrier 53. A screw 55 having a flange 55a engages an inwardly threaded hole of the cutter carrier 53. The flange 55a fits into a recess 55b centrally provided in the end of the lug 54 so as to make possible lateral adjustment of the cutter carrier 53 on the support 52 in one direction by rotating in the appropriate direction the screw 55 which is axially fixed by its flange 55a perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the rod 4|. Setting of the cutter carrier 53 in the desired position is obtained by means of a suitably shaped wedge member 56 bearing against the opposite face of the groove 5| and the feather 52, and blocked in adjusted position by means of a nut 51 screwed on a threaded rod 58 integral with the wedge 56 and extending through a suitable aperture 59 in the support in a direction perpendicular to the groove 5| and the axis of the rod 4|.

The cutter-carrier 53 likewise comprises on its upper face a groove 59 (Fig. 2) extending perpendicular to the feather 52 and to the rod 5|. On the lateral face of the cutter-carrier opposite to the groove 55 is secured by a screw 6| extending into a corresponding threaded aperture of the cutter carrier 53, a lateral plate 62 comprising a groove 63 which cooperates with the groove 60 to complete a dove-tail groove wherein is v 5 mounted the cutter Mihaving a :correspondingly formed cross-section (F'ig. 3) The lateral plate -62 is-guided by means:of a lug .62a of :trapezoidal cross-section engaging a correspondingly .formed groovefiZb in'the cutter-carrier53.

Lengthwise adjustmentof :the cutter islaccomplished by meansof :a screw :65 provided with .a lock nu-t 65a and 1 extending through a :threaded aperture suitably positioned the support .43, the end of saidscrew-65 bearingagainst the. rear -face of the cutter 64 opposite .its :cutting :iace. The *cutter 64* may be set in adjusted position by clamping the lateral plate -I52 with thescrew It will be seen from the above descriptionrthat perfect-adj ustment 'of each of theccuttersrfin may be obtained "inasmuch adjustment oil-each Zfif 'safd -cutte1=s is accomplished in ithree :direntions in perpendicul-ar relationship:betweemeachtother as indicated above. V V I i he oscillating levers I andrzsare actuatedrirom a main-shaft adapted to formia crankeshaftzor eccentric which also provides forithe ireciprocation ofthe ram 5. I he crank-pinsxllfliandzl Irrespectivelycontrol, :through ithermeidium ;of .links -I2 and, levers :and 2e=while ancintermediate 'crank pin 45 provides, sthrough .a link zI;6,..for reciprocation of the ram 5' 'rEig. .1) i The ere.- spective crank-pins ll and (II larerconstitntedin -the --'embodiment being. rjdescribed, :by :eccentrics keyedon the mainshaft9..

According to -the invention and spin ;ord.er ;to

allow slight laterala oscillations ;.of. reach of said links duringioperatiomof the.-machine,.-'said;1inks I2 and M are -.respectively mounted ".on ..crank- :pins l0 and I I keyed 0'n;,.the ;main xdriving shaft '9 of the machinethrough balllandsocketlbearings. Thus as diagrammatically "shown .by way -of example in Fig. ..1, cthe :head .pontioncof leach of thelinks I 2 .1 and-I lzeomprises; anlonterrringfi'l made 7 in two parts having laisphericaLinner ma- :chined surface s68 fittin lover 'anorrespondingly formed outer surfa'eamac'hined on anzinnerlring 69 mounted nn the ecorrespon'dingccrank spinof -the Lshaftsg :either directly ..or.;by means :1of 17a ne'edle, Joalli orlrollera-bearing' l-l). .Th'e;.crank ;.pin 'may be:directlyaformednn:the partsSior adapted and keyedltheretoea'sshown in'iigl.

.-.:According .to thelinvention. and as shown -Fig. ll Cof rthe 'drawingslthe {driving linklof reach one; of :the: alternating levers is tprelierably: made sup :of itwo parts, threadedly cconnected l between each'othersso: asrtorprovideiior: adjustment of %the l length of that: linkza ;;lock -nutii66 (being sprovideid for maintaining both said parts ofj theelinka-in adjustd po'sition. It is quite clear that any other means for adjusting the length of said links could also be used. Thus each of the links could h made up f. two pa ts havinesthe r:adiac t ends formed with opposite screwthreads. S;uch\

that by rotating the sleeve the proper l Zllhe :ab'ovedescribed;mechanismiimnazrts to the leversll and .2 :oscillating ireeiprocating motions in areverse directions sand .ssynchronized 'zwithuer spect 2170 eachtnthen-lihe point-hf contact between .the paths of :travel or athose movements at .each reeiprdcatioi 1 v:..said point iDfV montact :being the in zthe ioperative icycle where ccuttinggis 18f,- fected) heingasituated a :plarre cxmtainine' the longitudinal-axis 10f the :main :shaft 33, :th teen,- ctersefl'f therball andsocketiconnections :.l8z-and thealongitudinal axisiof athezram 5, ;.said plane heingmormal tozthedongitudinal axis of the-Div: ots 3 and 4. MOIeOVGr, fiuchim ntlflficontac is located inlaplaneinormaletc.theilongitudinal axis of the rmainishaft -.and-; containin ;the axis ofzpivr ots 3 and 4 as well as the lon itudinal-axis of the mam 5.

IIn theitormof embodiment illustrated. l vers a and :2 iarejsupn rtedaoirpivots an A athrnu h ithefintermediary (ii -conical rollerrbearingsi 2,2;ahd 32,3 butzanyr other :tyDB' of mounting; could ten ed and particiflarly. ;.ball bearin s, .:roller bearings, :needle bearings .or even solid cor conical ,z llshing bearings. I r 7 However, rand, inorder :to allow :the taki -3 p .;of wear icreplayxwhich ma @900111 durin he op- :eration of thelmachine at lthelocationphhingns onn cti nsiof the oscilla i e levers l-. and 2. there..:are :preferably til zed for moun said leverson th ir r spectivelpivots;conical-roll,-

er bearings 22 and 23 with means for takin yuplthewear onplay.

ZIothat end the zconical outer =,rac.e {-28.1 :of each \ofrthe ,ibearings g2-2 and :23 zmQuntedqon the- ;piv ot 3rfor example has 1an,.extension in :the ,form of a ring 11dhavingaanzoutwardly screw-,threadedesurraces engaging a: complementary: inwardly; screwethreadedzaperture .formed in the arms 1 la and 12a of the respectivealevers I;-an ,d 2.gqSuchthreaded -rings 14' are provided with 1.castellated ,zportions Iror-thelike to-facilitate their adjustment. The outer :raees 483 a of the. roller bearings 22 'and 23 zmollntedi in .the.: arms I band Halon-levers I i and 2 are held in ;plac e-b,y threaded :rings -11. Each ofithethreaded rings]! and:'l.-'I is locked in position :by; any.-suitableemeansesuch-as;a--.key I8 as shown"extending' through a: groove 19 'formed-in each of the arms; of 1- the .alevers I and .2 parallel :to the "oscillating 1-axes-thereof. ;Each of such vkeys 1:8,- comprises; at the :endzthereof :oppositeato the screw threadedsring 1.14:01' l'lyasqthecasesmay (1)8,3ELQOIIID1QHI3I1U3BYI screw: threaded portionengaging that of the ringianid locking rthessamein position by means of -.a screw 80-mounted inithe arm and 'bearingeagainst the rear ifacezof "said .l ey 3- +When it is :desired-to compensate for wear "which may 'goecur; whinging connection :of

said members, it is merelyznecessary'to unclamp the threaded :rings 14 by unscrewing the set .:screws '80 of athe 'keys'fl 8,:then the threaded rings IMaare screwed up: so as tozcause axial movement ofthe outer .conical races of the various bearings "12 and 513 in the direction correspondingto the tion the lengthof thel-inkma be adj to the Q *tighteningof such bearings. After adjustment desired value.

Coupling of the levers I "and 2- with the assoelated "driving links I2 and I4 is provided threugh "connections I land- I8 of the balland socket type provided with wear compensating means I constie tuted by nuts Hand 26. Such ball and socket connections could obviously be replaced by any other means capable of accomplishing the same function and in particular by gimbals, rackor other devices controlled by eccentrics.

said ringsf'l lare-retightened by means o'f -ascrew acting'on-the locking-keys 1-8 of said-races.

-The forks of "both levers may be offset as shown but they could also comprisea plurality of arms arranged in=-staggeredrelationship.

The assembly comprising levers I, 2 and pivots 3, t is centered and held in position by an upper bridge member 24 and a lower bridge member 25 secured to the frame of the machine. The center portion of the bridges is bored and threaded to receive nuts 26 and 21 for clamping the *roller bearings, such nuts themselves being bored and threaded to receive members 28 and 29 for blocking the pivots I and 2. Such members are provided with lock nuts 30 and 3| and are bored and threaded at one end thereof for adapting a lubricator, the opposite end of each member being formed with a tapered bore for receiving the correspondingly formed tapered end of each pivot. The opposite end of each pivot is fitted into a tapered bore formed centrally of the'centering flanges 32 and 33 which fit into corresponding recesses of the frame 34.

All the above described parts, after adjustment and clamping, form a homogeneous unit integral with the frame.

In order to remove the levers I and 2, it is merely necessary to unscrew the attaching bolts of the bridges 24, 25 such as A and to remove those bridges bodily with both locking members thereof without disturbing the adjustment of said members nor removing the same; it is then a simple matter to remove the pivots 3,4 and the levers I, 2 are thereby released.

It should be noted that wear on the system of pivots is negligible by reason of the small amount of travel of the levers; such wear is practically non-existent in connection with the ball and socket joints. Under such conditions, the amount of maintenance required for the machine is very small. I

It will further be noted that, in the event where the cutters should accidentally remain in cutting position during the advance stroke of the ram in consequence of their failure or of unscrewing of bolts 6 I, the ram will act upon the corresponding associated ramp surfaces B and C of the levers l and 2 to move said levers out of the way before reaching the cutters.

The machine is completed by all the usual devices comprising wire straightening means, wire feeding means and means for clamping the wire in the head-forming and shearing positions, said means being immaterial in the present invention.

It will be understood that the form of embodiment described and shown is given by way of indication and not of limitation. Generally speaking, all modifications or variations which do not alter the main features as disclosed above nor the object pursued by the invention remain comprised within the scope thereof;

' What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. In a cutting device for nail machine of the type comprising cutters adjustably mounted on levers to provide a space for the reciprocating movements of a horizontal heading rain, the combination of a frame, two pivot pins mounted on said frame and respectively aligned with each other and spaced above and below the horizontal heading ram, two levers respectively located on each. side of said ram and being pivoted on said pivot-pins, each of said levers being formed with one cylindrical recess opening laterally spaced from said pivot pins and the axis of which is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis of said ram, supports slidably mounted in said recesses and respectively formed with a vertical groove contained in a vertical plane substantially parallel to said horizontal axis, cutter car- Number riers slidably mounted in said vertical grooves and respectively formed with a horizontal groove substantially perpendicular to said horizontal axis, cutters respectively slidably mounted in said horizontal grooves, means for adjusting the position of each cutter in the corresponding horizontal groove, means for adjusting the position of the cutter carrier in the corresponding vertical groove, and means for adjusting the position of the slidable support in the corresponding cylindrical recess, whereby each adjusting means operates independently from the others, and individual means for locking said cutter, cutter carrier and support, respectively, after adjustment.

2. In a cutting device for a nail machine of the type comprising a pair of cutters, each being adjustably mounted on a respective one of a pair of levers to provide a space for the reciprocating movements of a horizontal heading ram, said machine having a crankshaft and connecting rods for imparting to said ram and levers oscillating movements in synchronized time relationship, the combination of aframe, two pivot pins mounted on said frame and respectively aligned with each other and spaced above and below the horizontal heading ram, said pair of levers being respectively located on each side of said ram and pivoted on said pivot pins, said connecting rods for connecting respective ones of the crank pins of the crankshaft to respective ones of said levers being rotatable for length adjustment so that the opening angle of said levers may be increased whereby the same nail machine may produce nails in a greater range of wire diameters, the levers being provided with spherical recesses, the line of centers of which are substantially aligned with the pivotal axis of said levers and located in the horizontal plane containing the horizontal axis of said ram and perpendicular to said horizontal axis, and the con- .necting rods for controlling said levers being each formed with one terminal spherical housing, a ball and socket device adjustably secured on one end of each of said connecting rods, the ball element of which swivels in a respective one of said spherical recesses, anda spherical bearing housedin. each said spherical housing and surrounding the corresponding crank pin of the crankshaft, whereby the stresses generated by misalignments are not transmitted to the pivot pins, and means for adjusting said ball members with respect to said connecting rods and said levers whereby the play generated by wear can be taken up.

, JEAN LOUIS WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 359,564 Happe Mar. 15, 1887 415,480 Taylor Nov. 19, 1889 423,254 Horton Mar. 11, 1890 648,383 Blakeslee May 1, 1900 679,128 Smith ,July 23, 1901 780,873 Donaghy Jan. 24, 1905 1,492,793 Hansen May 6, 1924 

